Des bienfaits Chapitre 33

Servavit in proelio patrem Scipio et praetextatus in hostes ecum concitavit. Parum est, quod, ut perveniret ad patrem, tot pericula maximos duces eum maxime prementia contempsit, tot oppositas difficultates, quod ad primam pugnam exiturus tiro per veteranorum corpora cucurrit, quod annos suos transiluit ? Adice, ut idem patrem reum defendat et conspirationi inimicorum potentium eripiat, ut alterum illi consulatum ac tertium aliosque honores etiam consularibus concupiscendos congerat, ut pauperi raptas belli iure opes tradat et, quod est militaribus viris speciosissimum, divitem illum spoliis etiam hostilibus faciat. Si adhuc parum est, adice, ut provincias et extraordinaria imperia continuet, adice, ut dirutis maximis urbibus Romani imperii sine aemulo ad ortus occasusque venturi defensor et conditor maiorem nobilitatem nobili viro adiciat, dici Scipionis patrem ! Dubium est, quin generandi vulgare beneficium vicerit eximia pietas et virtus ipsi urbi nescio utrum maius praesidium adferens an decus ? Deinde, si hoc parum est, finge aliquem tormenta patris discussisse, finge in se transtulisse. Licet tibi, in quantum velis, extendere beneficia filii, cum paternum munus et simplex sit et facile et danti voluptarium, quod necesse est ille multis dederit, etiam quibus dedisse se nescit, in quo consortem habet, in quo spectavit legem, patriam, praemia patrum, domus ac familiae perpetuitatem, omnia potius quam eum, cui dabat. Quid ? si quis sapientiam consecutus hanc patri tradiderit, etiamnunc disputabimus, an maius aliquid iam dederit, quam acceperat, cum vitam beatam patri reddiderit, acceperit tantum vitam ?

Scipio, while under seventeen years of age, rode among the enemy in battle, and saved his father's life. Was it not enough, that in order to reach his father he despised so many dangers when they were pressing hardest upon the greatest generals, that he, a novice in his first battle, made his way through so many obstacles, over the bodies of so many veteran soldiers, and showed strength and courage beyond his years? Add to this, that he also defended his father in court, and saved him from a plot of his powerful enemies, that he heaped upon him a second and a third consulship and other posts which were coveted even by consulars, that when his father was poor he bestowed upon him the plunder which he took by military licence, and that he made him rich with the spoils of the enemy, which is the greatest honour of a soldier. If even this did not repay his debt, add to it that he caused him to be constantly employed in the government of provinces and in special commands, add, that after he had destroyed the greatest cities, and became without a rival either in the east or in the west, the acknowledged protector and second founder of the Roman Empire, he bestowed upon one who was already of noble birth the higher title of "the father of Scipio;" can we doubt that the commonplace benefit of his birth was outdone by his exemplary conduct, and by the valour which was at once the glory and the protection of his country? Next, if this be not enough, suppose that a son were to rescue his father from the torture, or to undergo it in his stead. You can suppose the benefits returned by the son as great as you please, whereas the gift he received from his father was of one sort only, was easily performed, and was a pleasure to the giver; that he must necessarily have given the same thing to many others, even to some to whom he knows not that he has given it, that he had a partner in doing so, and that he had in view the law, patriotism, the rewards bestowed upon fathers of families by the state, the maintenance of his house and family: everything rather than him to whom he was giving life. What? supposing that any one were to learn philosophy and teach it to his father, could it be any longer disputed that the son had given him something greater than he had received from him, having returned to his father a happy life, whereas he had received from him merely life?

Scipion sauva son père dans un combat : à peine revêtu de la prétexte, il poussa son cheval contre l’ennemi ; s'était peu d’avoir bravé, pour arriver à son père, les extrêmes périls qui de toutes parts pressaient les chefs principaux, d'avoir triomphé de tant d’obstacles, d’avoir, lui, nouveau venu, passé sur le corps aux vétérans pour courir à la première ligne, d’avoir enfin devancé son âge : ajoute que ce même héros va défendre ce père accusé, l’arracher aux puissants adversaires ligués contre lui ; qu’il va, outre un second et un troisième consulat, accumuler sur lui tous les honneurs qu’un consulaire même puisse ambitionner, qu’il va faire hommage à sa pauvreté des trésors qu’il tient du droit de la guerre, et, chose la plus flatteuse pour un guerrier, l’enrichir des dépouilles de l’ennemi. Si c’est peu encore, ajoute qu’il lui continue ses gouvernements de provinces et ses commandements extraordinaires ; ajoute que, par la ruine des plus redoutables cités, devenu le protecteur et le vrai fondateur d’un empire qui désormais s’étendait sans rival de l’Orient à l’Occident, il apporte une illustration nouvelle à un père déjà si illustre. C’était, dis-tu, le père de Scipion ! Mais est-il douteux que le vulgaire bienfait de la naissance ne soit éclipsé par cette sublime piété filiale et par cet héroïsme dont je ne saurais dire si la patrie recueillait plus de sécurité que de gloire ?